Shedfield

Shedfield is a village and civil parish in the City of Winchester district of Hampshire, England. In the 2001 UK Census, Shedfield had a population of 3,914. cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=5945644&c=shedfield&d=14&e=16&g=453252&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1196113506734&enc=1 |title=Key Figures for 2001 Census: Census Area Statistics |accessdate=2007-11-26 |work=2001 UK Census |publisher=Office for National Statistics ]

History

Manorial records and casual archaeological finds, along with five more detailed archaeological studies, suggest that the land around Shedfield has been occupied continually since the Mesolithic period.

The manor of Shedfield was owned by the Bishops of Winchester. Shedfield was recorded in a 1337 court roll, adding the Tithing of Shedfield to the parish of Droxford. Shedfield's parish registers date from 1829, but the civil parish was established in 1894 as part of a national reorganisation following significant population growth. cite web|url=http://www3.hants.gov.uk/localpages/central/bishops-waltham/shedfield.htm |title=Shedfield |accessdate=2007-11-26 |work=Bishop's Waltham Local Pages |publisher=Hampshire County Council ] At that time, the parish was within the Bishop's Waltham Hundred.

Ownership of the manor house and its estate passed to the Phillimore family in the 1860s, and remains with them today. Most of the buildings and structures in Shedfield today date from the nineteenth century, including the Parish Church of St. John the Baptist which was built in 1875. However, this building replaced an earlier structure, and the buttressed tower of the earlier church is still standing. Shedfield Cricket Club was founded in 1886. cite web|url=http://www.shedfieldcc.co.uk/ |title=Shedfield Cricket Club |accessdate=2007-11-26 |publisher=Shedfield Cricket Club ]

Much of the estate's land is now a golf course, and many of the estate buildings are used for business purposes. Also located on the estate is a Mariott hotel and country club.

Geography

The village is located in a valley, and is located close to several freshwater springs. cite web|url=http://www.shedfieldhouseestate.co.uk/history.asp |title=Shedfield House History |accessdate=2007-11-26 |publisher=Shedfield House Estate ] The soil in the area is mainly sandy, therefore having good drainage, and is regarded as good pasture for keeping sheep and cattle.

Demography

The gender split in Shedfield is roughly even, with 1,931 males and 1,983 females in the parish. Most of the population are Christians, with just over 12 per cent claiming to have no religion and eight percent having other religions. The number of people professing to have good health is slightly above the rates for South East England and England as a whole, but slightly below the average for the Winchester district.

External links

* [http://www.shedfieldparishcouncil.org.uk/ Shedfield Parish Council]

References